The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-02-09
REPORT OF RAILROAD COMMIS-
STONERS.

/ OFFItE OF RAILROAD COMMISSION.
| Jackson, Miss, January lst, 1857. !
To HIS Ercelleaey, Robert Lo,cry, Gopesnor
Of Mississippi:
| Section Ii of the Act eff the Legisla-
ture creating the Railroad Commission
and prescribing its duties, approved
March 18th, 1884. is as follows: "Be it
| further enacted, That the Commission
| shall make annual reports TO the Cover
| nor on or before the first day of January
| In each year, for transmission to the
Legislature, of their doings for the year
ending 30th day of September next pre-
| ceding, containing such facts as will
| disclose the actual working of the rail-
way system in this State, and such sug-
gestions as to the general railroad policy
of the State as may seem to them appro-
pirate" The present Commissioners
were elected March 18th, 1886, and there
report will therefore only cover the
period from that date to the 30th of
September, 1886.
Our predecessors, Ex-Governor Stone
and Messrs. Melville and Augustus,
were appointed in March, 1884, but
during nearly the whole of their term of
Office. injunctions from both the Federal
and State Courts prevented the enforce
ment of the principal features of the
Railroad Supervision law.
Shortly after the election by the Leg
islature of the present Board, it organ
lied March 18th, 1886, by the election
of chairman and clerk, and entered at
once upon the work of putting the law
into practical operation. We prepared
and forwarded blanks for the quarterly
report of each railroad company in the
State for the first quarter of the year
1886, embracing January, February and
March, which reports were made and
are on file in our Office. These were
followed at the proper time by reports
for the second and third quarters of the
year, which covers the period for which
this report is made. In addition to
keeping complete record of our pro
ceedlngs in minute book, We adopted
the plan at the outset of promulgating
by circulars such judgments and orders
as 1t was important to make public.
These records are always subject to in
spection and examination, and we deem
1t unnecessary to embody them in the
present report.
On the Sth day of July, 1886, the fol-
lowing freight rules and regulations
were adopted:
FREIGHT RULES AND REGULATIONS
ADOPTED BY THE RAILROAD COM
MISSION OF TsiE STATE OF MIS-
sIssIPFI, JULY SrH, 1886.
Rule L. The freight rates fixed by the
Commission are maximum rates, which
shall not be transcribed by the rail
roads; they may, however, carry at less
than the rates fixed; provided, that if
they carry for less for one person, they
shall for the like service carry for the
same lessened rate for all persons, except
as mentioned hereafter; and if they
adopt less freight rates from one station,
other than the rate fixed by the Com
mission, then they shall make a reduc-
tlon of the same per cent. at all stations
along the line of road, so as to make no
unjust discrimination as against any
person or locality. But when from any
point in this State there are competing
lines of transportation, then any Rail
road, at such competing point, may
make rates below the tariff fixed by the
Commission, to meet such competition,
without making a corresponding reduc-
tion along the line of the road.
Rule 2. Each railroad company shall
make printed table of distances be- |
tween its respective stations, by name,
which shall be posted conspicuously in
the waiting room of its respective depots,
near the schedules and tariffs of charges |
for the transportation of freight and |
passengers. And when any reduction |
of rates is made in accordance with the |
preceding rule, prompt notice shall be
given to the Railroad Commission, and
the reduced rates shall also be posted
as above required.
Rule g. There shall be no secret re-
duction of rates; and no rebate, bonus,
drawback, or other advantage, in any
form, shall be given, either directly or
indirectly, upon shipments made or SER
vice rendered to any person, not allowed
to all Others persons, Except IS allowed
by other rules and regulations estab-
lished by the Commission), but the rates
shall be uniform to all, and public.
Rule f. None of the rules and regula-
tions established by the Commission
shall be so construed as to prevent any
railroad company from transporting
freight and persons free of charge, or at
reduced rates, for any religious, chari- |
table or benevolent purpose, or for any
industrial exposition, fair or association
of public nature, or for transporting
immigrants into this State, or persons
prospecting with view of locating or
bringing immigrants into this State, or
for pleasure excursions.
Rule 5. The rates specified for ores,
sand, clay, rough stone, common brick,
bone, lumber, shingles, laths, slaves,
empty barrels, wood and coal, corn and
other cereals, fruit and vegetables raised
on line of road in this State, and shipped
to market; and fertilizers, straw, shueks,
hay, fodder, tanbark, turpentine, rosin,
tar, household goods, and articles manu-
factured on or near the line of road in
this State, and for material used in such
manufacture, are maximum rates; but
the roads are left free to reduce them
at discretion; and all such rates are
exempted from the operation of Rule l.
Rule 6. The rates charged for freight
service by regular passenger trains may
be double that for first-class freight by
ordinary freight trains, but the railroad
companies are not compelled to trans
port by passenger trains such freight as
is not proper to be carried by such
trains.
Rule 7. Railroad companies doing
business in this State shall issue freight
receipts to parties paying freight
charges; which shall state the class and
rates of freight, and shall also contain
an itemized statement showing charges
on other roads respectively, and sepa-
rately from its own, if any.
Rule s. In the application of the pre-
scribed tariff, a ton is 1000 pounds,
carload is 20, 900 pounds, and any excess
over the carload weight may be charged
for at carload rate, except where the
classification for less than carloads
specifies a lower rate, and then such
lower rate shall govern.
Rule 9. Any railroad company, char
tered under the laws OF this State, and
operating therein, whose line extends
beyond the limits of this State shall, as
to freight shipped from points without
| the State to points within, or as to that
which is carried from points within the
State to points without, make no dis
elimination in charges on any part of
its line against the shipper or consignee
within this State, but the amount charged
by any such railroad company for trans
portation of such freight over any part
of its line within this State, shall bear
the same proportion to the total amount
charged as such part of the line does to
the entire distance carried, and shall
not exceed the maximum rates fixed by
this Commission for such Railroad Com
pany.
TNoTE-After the Supreme Court Of the United
States In the case Of Wabash, St Louis & Pacific
Railway Company vs.. People of State Of Illinois
held that to the character of freight referred "a
in this rule, State Commission had no authority
to fix rates. ue revoked this rule.-R- B. Commits
sion
i Rule 10. Five miles is fixed by the
Commission as the limit for change ol
freight rates from ten to one hundred
l-.1cr cx,d fan r.iloa IA Fl xpd as the limit